Game piece support and guide

ABSTRACT

A table game which simulates hockey, football or the like and comprises a playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck, ball or the like is moved during the play by means of a number of player figures. These player figures are displaced by the participants of the game along slots provided in the board and rotated by means of control rods displaceably and rotatably mounted beneath the board. Each control rod is connected via an angular shaft joint to an upright which is mounted in a holder and is at right angles to the board. The upright extends through a corresponding slot in the board, on the upper side of which it constitutes an attachment for a player figure. Each holder has a crosspiece rotatably connected to the holder to permit the crosspiece to be passed through the slot in the board. The crosspiece is fixable to the holder in the position in which it extends in the transverse direction of the slot so that it can cooperate with the upper side of the board in order to support the holder.

United States Patent [72] inventor Stig Gunar Hjelmquist P.0. Box 6, 5-573 00. Tranas. Sweden [21] Appl. No. 843,983 [22] Filed July 23,1969 [45] Patented June 22, 1971 [32] Priority Aug. 5, 1968 [33] Sweden I 31 l 10537/68 [54] GAME PIECE SUPPORT AND GUIDE 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/85 [5 1] int. Cl A63f 7/06 [50] Field of Search 273/85 B, 94 B [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 632,798 1961 Canada 273/85 (B) 680,726 1964 Canada 273/85 (B) Primary Examiner-George J. Mario Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorneys-Browne, Schuyler & Beveridge (Beveridge &

DeGrandi) ABSTRACT: A table game which simulates hockey, football or the like and comprises a playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck, ball or the like is moved during the play by means of a number of player figures. These player figures are displaced by the participants of the game along r slots provided in the board and rotated by means of control rods displaceably and rotatably mounted beneath the board. Each control rod is connected via an angular shaft joint to an upright which is mounted in a holder and is at right angles to the board. The upright extends through a corresponding slot in the board, on the upper side of which it constitutes an attachment for a player figure. Each holder has a crosspiece rotatably connected to the holder to permit the crosspiece to be passed through the slot in the board. The crosspiece is fixable to the holder in the position in which it extends in the transverse direction of the slot so that it can cooperate with the upper side of the board in order to support the holder.

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firms Maya GAME PIECE SUPPORT AND GUIDE This invention relates to an arrangement in such table games as are intended to simulate hockey, football or the like and comprise a preferably quadrilateral playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck, ball or the like is moved during the play by means of a number of player figures adapted to be displaced by the participants in the game along slots provided in the board and to be rotated by means of control rods displaceably and rotatably mounted beneath said board, each control rod being connected via an angular shaft joint to an upright which is mounted in a holder and is at least substantially at right angles to the board, said upright extending through a corresponding slot in the board on the upper side of which it constitutes an attachment for a player figure, said holder having a cross piece cooperating with the upper side of the board in order to support the holder.

Such a cross piece offers considerably advantages as compared with a washer or ring which is fixed to the upright on the upper side of the board. With a washer or ring, it is difficult to obtain a reliable attachment because of the small distance between the foot of the player figure and the playing surface. When the play figure is being mounted, a considerable pressure is exerted by the upright against the playing surface. Another disadvantage is that such washers or rings are loose parts.

The known cross piece which is adapted to cooperate with the upper side of the board is, however, fixedly connected with the holder, for which reason the control rod cannot be attached to the angular shaft joint in the holder until the holder is in position. Before the crosspiece of the holder can be passed through the slot in the board, the holder must temporarily be turned through 90 so that the cross piece will lie in the longitudinal direction of the slot. Thus, the control rod can be attached to the holder only after such rotation. This disadvantage is eliminated by the crosspiece according to the present invention which is essentially characterized in that it is connected to the holder for rotation about the axis of the upright and fixable to the holder in the position in which it extends in the transverse direction of the slot. The control rod can thus be pushed directly into its aperture in the edge of the playing board, simultaneously as the crosspiece is passed through the slot of the board, whereupon the cross piece is rotated through a quarter turn and fixed to the holder, the crosspiece thus extending in the transverse direction of the slot. The holder can thus be manufactured as a complete unit with control rod and upright. Once the holder has been mounted, no additional parts are required.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment chosen by way ofexample.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of part of the game during mounting of the holder;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the same part of the game after mounting of the holder;

F IG. 3 is a lateral view of the holder, partly in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the holder;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the crosspiece;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the crosspiece;

FIG. 7 shows the holder from below with the crosspiece attached to it.

The playing board 1 is preferably quadrilateral, and the playing surface is surrounded by a boarder 2 imparting to the playing surface the form of the playing ground of the simulated game. The boarder 2 merges into a frame 3 supporting the playing board 1.

At least in its longitudinal direction, the playing board 1 is provided with slots 4 with which vertical uprights 5 are adapted to engage. Above the playing board 1 the uprights are formed into attachments for the player figures which can be shaped as hockey players with sticks.

Mounted in the frame 3 are control rods 6 which at their ends outside the frame 3 are provided with handles of rubber, plastic or like material. Each control rod engages, with its inner end beneath the playing board 1, a holder 7 adapted to be displaced by the rod 6. The upright 5 is mounted on the holder, and because it is connected with the rod 6 through an angular shaft joint in the form of a helical spring it can be made to participate in the rotation of the control rod. Both the upright 5 and the rod 6 thus are rotatably but nondisplaceably mounted in the holder 7.

The holder 7 has a crosspiece 8 adapted to cooperate with the upper side of the playing board in order to support the holder. The crosspiece 8 is connected to the holder 7 for rotation about the axis of the upright 5 and fixable to the holder 7 in the position in which it extends in the transverse direction of the slot 4 and thus the transverse direction of the control rod 6.

The crosspiece 8 has a snap connection for fixing it to the holder 7 in the position in' which it extends in the transverse direction of the slot 4. The snap connection consists of two diametrical projections 10 extending from a central portion 9 around the upright 5 and adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses 11 in the holder 7.

The holder 7 has a through hole 12 for the projections 10 of the crosspiece 8 and the central portion 9 located therebetween. The recesses 11 for the projections 10 are provided in a space beneath the through hole 12, transversely of said hole. After the crosspiece 8 with its central portion 9 and the projections 10 has been passed through the hole 12 it must be rotated through a quarter turn to enable the projections 10 to snap into the recesses 11 which are provided in a flexible wall 13 of the holder 7.

Upright 5 and thus the holder 7 must be nondisplaceable in a direction at right angles to the playing surface. When the crosspiece 8 engages the upper side of the board 1, a portion of the holder 7 must therefore engage the underside of the board. This portion could be the upper side 4 of the holder 7, but in a preferred embodiment it is constituted by a second crosspiece 15 or the like which is rigidly connected with the crosspiece 8 and is disposed beneath it at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the board 1.

The holder 7 and the crosspieces 8 and 15 are preferably made from plastic or like material.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An arrangement in table games intended to simulate hockey, football or the like and comprising a preferably quadrilateral playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck, ball or the like is moved during the play by means of a number of player figures adapted to be displaced by the participants in the game along slots providing in the board and to be rotated by means of control rods displaceably and rotatably mounted beneath said board, each control rod being connected via an angular shaft joint to an upright which is mounted in a holder and is at least substantially at right angles to the board, said upright extending through a corresponding slot in the board on the upper side of which it constitutes an attachment for a player figure, said holder having a crosspiece cooperating with the upper side of the playing board in order to support the holder, characterized that the crosspiece is connected to the holder'for rotation relative thereto about the axis of the upright and fixable to said holder in the position in which it extends transversely of the slot.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the crosspiece has a snap connection for fixing it to the holder in the position in which it extends transversely of the slot.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the snap connection consists of two diametrical projections extending from a central portion around the upright and adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses in the holder.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that the crosspiece is rigidly connected with a second crosspiece is located beneath said first crosspiece and adapted to cooperate with the underside of the playing board. 

1. An arrangement in table games intended to simulate hockey, football or the like and comprising a preferably quadrilateral playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck, ball or the like is moved during the play by means of a number of player figures adapted to be displaced by the participants in the game along slots providing in the board and to be rotated by means of control rods displaceably and rotatably mounted beneath said board, each control rod being connected via an angular shaft joint to an upright which is mounted in a holder and is at least substantially at right angles to the board, said upright extending through a corresponding slot in the board on the upper side of which it constitutes an attachment for a player figure, said holder having a crosspiece cooperating with the upper side of the playing board in order to support the holder, characterized that the crosspiece is connected to the holder for rotation relative thereto about the axis of the upright and fixable to said holder in the position in which it extends transversely of the slot.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the crosspiece has a snap connection for fixing it to the holder in the position in which it extends transversely of the slot.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the snap connection consists of two diametrical projections extending from a central portion around the upright and adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses in the holder.
 4. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder has a through hole for the projections of the crosspiece and the central portion located therebetween, the recesses for the projections being provided in a space beneath said through hole.
 5. An arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the crosspiece is rigidly connected with a second crosspiece is located beneath said first crosspiece and adapted to cooperate with the underside of the playing board. 